Photographic-printing machine



192 7 G. A. SMITH PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet "1 [a z 1 Y W.

July 5,1927. 1,635,014

G. A. SMITH PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2; 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Si i 87 .92 42 (j IJVEENTOR. 91 f F] E 0 01:9914. mii I 0 68 I Ii 5 ,82 a $225313? Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. SMITH, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO EASTMAN KODAK COM- PANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRINTING MACHINE.

Application filed December 2, 1924. Serial No. 753,510.

' This invention relates to photography, and more particularly to photographic printing machines. It has for its object to provide a printing machine with which fancy borders can be readily made on prints. Another object is to provide a printer in which a single fancy border mask may serve for a large variety of different sized prints. Another object is to provide a printer in which a negative is printed by a projected beam of light of the correct size to mask the print without the usual mask between the negative and paper. Another object is to provide suitable paper locating members. Another object is to provide means for quickly altering the dimensions of the mask and fancy border. Other objects will appear hereinafter from the specification, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end thereof,

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a section through a printer constructed in accordance with and illustrating one form of my invention, taken on line Fig. 7 isa planview of the printer top,

.6 parts being broken away;

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram which may be used with the printer, and

Fig. 9 is a modified form of my invention.

It has heretofore been the common practice in making prints with fancy or tinted borders to provide a printing mask and a border tinting mask for each size and shape of picture printed. These have to carry registering marks carefully placed so that the" paper may be properly registered for each of the separate printings. Consequently, a photographer had to carry a large variety of masks for all of the commercial shapes and sizes, and these had to be kept airs which were complementary so they con 6. be used. together.

e w h d f ulties of handling large numbers of masks and keeping them in d condition (they are usually of paper) ouble printed photographs have been expensive toproduce.

I have, by the invention hereinafter described, not only reduced the number of masks necessary to a fraction of what were before used, but I have also provided single masking members having complementary areas in place of the several separate masks which must be used together, so that a single member carries the necessary elements both for masking the negative and printing the border.

This invention broadly comprises printing negatives by a beam of light which is of the size desired so as to print a picture with the edges of the print unexposed, and

then by removing the negative, print a fancy' border around the print by projection, masking out suitable portions. Of course, my invention is also useful for merely printing alone, or printing a fancy border alone, but it is especially adapted to combine these two operations.

In the present embodiment of my invention, the printer consists of a cabinet having supporting legs 1, a top 2, front 3 and back 4:. The sides 5 are preferably left open. The top 2 includes a frame 6 carrying a glass printing panel 7, on which a platen 8 of the usual type may be mounted. This may consist of sections 9 and 10 hinged at 11 to the bar 12 and movable through a handle 13 and springs 14. Beneath frame 6 there is a second frame 15 which supports the upper end of a bellows 16 about the opening 17 The other end of bellows 16 is carried by a lens board 18 and is movable with tube 19 which carries the objective 20 when the knob 21 is used to turn pinion 22 which acts on rack 23. Pinion 22 is supported in a cone 24 which is mounted upon frame 25 carried by the table 26.

On table 26 there is a track or slideway 27 into which the slide carrier 28 is movable between two positions fixed by stops 29 and 30 against hich the screws 31 and 32 strike Fig. 6). Stop 29 may swing upon pivot 33 so that the carrier 28 may be withdrawn from'the rails for inserting a mask plate 3 past the side 35 into the slot 36. The openmg 37 or 38 in the slide carrier 28 and the corresponding masks 66 or 69 of the mask plate 34 is centered over the lamp 41andreflector 42 when the carrieris moved to a stop in one of its two operative positions in the field of objective 20. A pilot or red lamp 40 is preferably carried in one side of the reflector.

Table 26 may be moved up or down upon rods 43 by a handle 46, preferably being provided with pointers 47 and 48 movable over scales 49 and 50. The table is counterbalanced by weights 51 of which there are two, one on each side of the machine, connected by cables 52 passing over pulleys 53 and 54 and then being attached to table 26 at 55. The table 26 is freely movable, and as the 3%x5%", 4%"X6 A 57x8", etc. While the above listed sets of sizes are not exactly proportional, it has been foundin standard practice that only a slight reduction of the full exposure area is necessary to obtain the picture area given by the standard masks: As an example I prefer to provide one mask plate 34 with masks of the relative proportion of 4):5", and, as this is the rojected size of the masks, a small masking plate may] be'used, the size being, of course, determined by the focal length of the objective used. 1 Thus the small mask is not only comparatively cheap, because of its size, but is also economical because the single mask can be used for all negatives of about the same relative roportions. I find it convenient to provide scales 49 and 50, (Fig. 2)

table and objective are moved, the size of a \for the most popular sizes of masks, the

light beam projected by the objective 191upon anel 7 will, of course, be: altered.

11 top of the printing panel 7 (Fig. 7) there are slidably mounted registering slides 56 and 57 movable upon studs 58 and 59 by handles 60 and 61. These slides have straight edges 62 and 63 and are used to re ter the paper-for printing.

he masking plate 34 may consist of a late as shown'in Fig. 3 having an opaque ody portion 65, and a transparent or clear area 66, for the masking member. may also be complementary border tinting areas 67 and 68 of diiferent densities. The drawin is by way of illustration only as obvious ly the design of the mask, and particularly that of the border tinting mask may be (and are in practice) varied in a great many ways. I have found that a suitable masking plate may be made photogra hically, as this type of mask can be rea il made with a variety of shapes, sizes and dbnsities. I prefer to use a photographic plate for the masking member 34., but obviously this member may consist of the usual type of cut paper mask with diffusion areas covered b tracing linen, tissue paper or the like, sue as is commonly used in maln'ng masks for contact printing.

If desired, the fancy border mask may be used for printingby proLeection and separate lamps L (Fig. 9) may used for ctntact rinting the ne ative in the usual manner. his is not pro "erred since if this is done a large number of different sizes and shapes of masks for the negative are required, and these must be of such a shape that they may be used with the projected fancy border mask.

It should be noted that oiie size fancy bor er mask, may beused for all sizes of relatirely similar proportions: thus one mask may serve for pictures to be made from negatives havingapidzure areas, of the sizes: 4":5", e ,"xs 8"x10, 10"x12", etc; and one may serve for 2 "x4 There scales to be are used.

In Fig. 8, I haveshown a convenient wiring diagram which may be used with my machine. The line wires and 81 furnish power to the machine through wires 82 and 83 controlled by a main switch 84. Lamp 40 graduated into units of sizes that is a red pilot lamp and burns continuously when switch 86 permits power to pass through wires 87 and 88. The printing lamp 42 will burn when the spring switch 90 is closed so. that current may flow through wires 91 and 92. This switch may be conveniently operated by the platen handle 13 in the usual manner.

The operation of my machine is as follows: Supposing an operator desires to print a 4"x5" area of a 5"x7" plate with a tinted border. Locating members 56 and 57 are moved back from panel 7-and handle 46' is raised until a 4"x5" proportion mask permits objective 19 to cast a beam of red light from lamp 40 upon the ne ative of the desired size. Knot 21 is adjusted until the edges of the illuminated area are sharp. The negative may then be moved until the desired area is illuminated and then printing aper may be placed over the negative. The ocating slides 56 and 57 are then adjusted to two edges of the paper. The paper may be then exposed by lowering handle 13 in the usual manner. This turns on lamp 41 to produce a latent image in the aper the margins remaining un rinted. Xfter printing 'the platen is raise and the negative isremoved.

The carrier 28 is then slid so thatarea 66 moves from its operative position beneath objective 19 and the fancy border'69 comes to 1ts operative position. The aper, located by members 56 and 57 is t en given a latent image of the fancy border by again lowering handle 13, and as the negative has been removed the border is printed directly upon the paper. The relative exposures necessary for the desired tints can be readily ascertained with a little practice, and no skill is necessary to register the paper and masks for the exposures.

Suppose now, a 8 X 10 picture is'to be printed. The same mask 34 may be used by merely moving handle 46 and knob 21. t For the same proportions it is unnecessary to change plate 34. If, however, the proportions are to be altered another mask must be used.

It is to be understood that numerous em- 7 bodiments of my invention are possible and that I contemplate as within the scope thereof, all such modifications and equiva- T lents as fall within the terms of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a printing machine, the combination with a panel adapted to support a negative and a sheet of sensitized material, of a source of light spaced from the panel and an objective between the light source and the panel, and means for controlling the light rays projected by the panel including a masking device, a slideway carried by the printer for the masking device, a plurality of stops at fixed predetermined positions along the slideway, a plurality of contacts on the masking device adapted to engage the stops on the slide and to locate the masking device in a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the objective whereby printing light rays and masking light rays may be projected through the masking device in a predetermined relation by the printing panel.

2. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a panel adapted to support a negative and a sheet of sensitized material, of a source of light spaced from the panel and an objective between the light source and the panel, and means for controlling the light rays projected by the lens including a masking device, a sli eway for the maskin device, comprising a slide carrier, a mask having a plurality of masking openings ada ted to be carried by the carrier, adjusta le means for limiting the movement of the carrier whereby the pluralit of masking openings may be regis tere in a predetermlned position.

3. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a panel adapted to support a negative and a sheet of sensitized material, of a light source spaced from the panel and an objective adapted to project beams of light rays upon the panel, means for controlling the size and shape of the projected beams of light rays including a movably mounted mask plate, a plurality of masking openings in the plate, and a plurality of mask locating members comprisin cooperating elements on the printer and 'a border design thereon.

mask, whereby diflerent light beams may be projected in a predetermined relation upon the sensitized material.

4. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a printing panel adapted to support a negative and a sheet of sensitized material, means for light printing upon the sheet including a source of light, an objective and a movable masking device, said device including a slidable member, stops adapted to position the slidable member in fixed positions, a masking plate carried by the slidable member having a plurality of light masking members adapted to be aligned with the axis of the objective when the slidable member is positioned by a stop, whereby different masks may be accurately positioned relative to the sheet of sensitized material for producing 5. In a photographic printing machine, the combination with a printing panel adapted to support a negative and a sheet of sensitized material, means for light printing upon the sensitized material by projection and by contact including a source of light, an objective and a movable masking device, said device including a movable member, means for positioning the movable member with different parts of the device having a fixed relation to the objec tive comprising stops, and a light controlling masking device having separated light controlling openings therein, whereby a controlled beam of light may be projected for printing a portion of the negative upon the sensitive material by bringing the mask to one stop, and whereby a beam of light may be projected upon the sensitive material for printing a border thereon by moving the mask to a different stop.

6. In' a printing machine, the combination with a printingpanel adapted to support a negative and a sheet of sensitized material of means for registering the sensitized material on the panel, an objective and a light source carried by the machine, the objective being adapted to project a light beam from the light source to the panel, and means for controlling the light eam comprising a masking member between the objective and the source of light, said masking member having a plurality of difierent light admitting openings therein, and means operable between the masking member and the machine adapted to register the mask in a plurality of positions each having a fixed relation to the sheet of sensitized material registered on the panel.

7. In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a light source spaced therefrom, an objective between the printing panel and the light source, a registering device for sensitized material mounted n th p e an a dev ce f r controlling light rays" projected from the lamp to the panel including a movable masking member, means for registering the masking member and sensitized material in a definite relation to each other.

8.'In a printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of a light source spaced therefrom, an objective between the printing panel and the light source, a registering device for sensitizedmaterial mounted on the panel. and a device for controlling light rays projected from the lamp to the panel including a movable masking member, having a plurality of mask openings, means for registering the masking member with one of the openings in a definite relation to the sensitized material, means for locating the sensitized material in a fixed relation to the panel, and means for moving the mask to bring another mask opening into register with the sensitized material.

9. In a printing machine the combination with a printing panel, of a light source spaced therefrom, an objective between the printing panel and the light source, a registering device for sensitized material mounted on the panel, and a device for controlling light rays projected from the lam to the panel including a movable mas ing member, having a plurality of openings therein, cooperatingstops on the mask and machine adapted to locate the various openings of the mask in a fixed position relative to the panel and a locating device for positioning the sensitized material in a fixed position relative to the panel, whereby one opening of the mask may be registered relative to the sensitive materialand the other opening of the mask may be so registered by moving the mask 10. Tn a photographic printing machine, the combination with a printing panel, of

a-locating device mounted to move relative by the locating device mounted inside 'ofthe printing machine on the panel.

11. In a photographic rint'mg machine, the combination with a printing panel, of 8.

cating device whereby light rays may be projected to theprinting panel controlled by a mask opening. Y

12. In a photographic printing machine,

the combination with a printing panel, of a locating device adapted to position a sheet' of sensitized paper thereon, a light source and an objective adapted to projectlight rays upon the printing panel, and a light controlling mask adapted to' control the light beam, said mask having a plurality of openings to pass light rays therethrough, means for moving the mask, cooperating locating devices on the printer and mask for locating the mask in difierent positions, with different openings of the mask in a fixed relation to the objective and the light source, the paper locating device having a movable connection with the printer whereb the relation of this device may be .altere with respect to the mask and a controlled light beam may be projected by the objective upon a sheet of a sensitized paper positioned on the platen.

13. In a printing machine the combination with a printing panel adapted to support a negative and a sheet of sensitized material, of means to locate the sheet on the printmg panel, and means for light printing on the sheet including a source of light, an obective and a movable mask between the light source and objective and in the focal plane of the objective, said mask having a plurality of masking designs, one design being adapted to permit the objective to project a beam of light upon the printing panel to print from an area of the negative upon a sheet located by the locating means, and another mask design being adapted to permit the objective to project a beam of light for producing a fancy border 11 on the sheet located by the locating means a r the negative has been removed.

Signed at Baltimore, Maryland, this 22nd day of November, 1924.

GEORGE A. SMITH. 

